Energy manipulation proves need for regulation

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Columnist Thomas Sowell argues regulation is a bad idea [“Articulate lies shouldn't leave GOP speechless,” Commentary, Sept. 23]. He says California government regulators forced energy companies to charge less for electricity than they had to pay to buy it, which is partially true. However, the reason California energy prices soared to an 800 percent increase in an eight-month period in 2000 was market manipulations and illegal shutdowns of pipelines by energy consortiums, including Enron.

These reprehensible actions were made possible by Gov. Pete Wilson's partial deregulation of energy in 1996. Gov. Gray Davis then took the fall when he had to use taxpayer dollars to end the crisis. California's electricity debacle is one of the better arguments for regulation, not the opposite.

As for Sowell's argument about trickle-down economics, whether Sowell refutes the label or not, the GOP theory has been that you cut taxes on the rich, and it changes their behavior so that they will invest money in endeavors that will promote jobs instead of hiding it in tax shelters. However, taxes on the rich have been cut many times over the past 30 years, and the rich are still putting money in tax shelters and structuring income so that they are paying at capital gains rate of 15 percent or less. Cutting taxes has not resulted in trickle-down economics, as is evident by the Register's own chart in Sunday's paper showing the middle class is shrinking and increasingly poorer [“America's shrinking middle class,” Sept. 23]. It may have made sense when the very rich paid tax rates of more than 70 percent.

It makes no sense when their rates are 15 percent or less and their income has multiplied more than 275 percent while middle-class income has stagnated. It's time to try another economic theory – raising the taxes on the rich and cutting their tax loopholes.

Judith A. Lewis

Huntington Beach

On Islamic caricatures

With all due respect to Bob Meehan's comments on free speech, I would like to clear up the observation he made, “It is well-known that extremist Muslims caricature Christianity, Judaism and any other religion” [“Free speech includes freedom to critique,” Sept. 25].

Meehan is ignorant of the fact that, whether it is an extremist Muslim or otherwise, that Muslims know from the scriptures they follow that they cannot blaspheme the biblical prophets, the major prophets being: Abraham, David, Moses, Jesus and Muhammad.

If he would research, he would find that it is Islam that elevated the status of all of these messengers of the almighty creator. The previous two major Abrahamic religions had fabricated many untruths about these men of God.

Finally, consider the recent episode of Kate Middleton, when her lewd pictures were splashed on the front pages of tabloids in France. The British royalty and even the British high court came down hard on the publisher and levied a heavy fine for each day it remained in the public eye. So much for freedom of speech.

In Islam, it is mandated to respect all the prophets and all the scriptures. Muslims cannot go against this ruling.

Syed Kadri

Corona

What's in a name?

When I read Barbara Venezia's article, “O.C. women want to open sober high school,” [Local, Sept. 22], I was sickened by another example of political correctness and liberalism run amok. Orange County is filled with people who have given time, effort, creativity and even their lives to serve, improve and protect the values inculcated in children.

We have aerospace heroes, sports heroes, civic pioneers and heroes, law enforcement officers and firefighters who have given their lives in the ultimate heroic sacrifice. I'm still looking for a school, especially a high school, to be named after them.

Instead, a faction seeks to name a high school after a drunken sop who voluntarily got into a car and entered the public roadways where innocent lives were placed at risk.

The only positive is that Michael Serna killed only himself. To think that public officials would even contemplate making a hero out of Serna is a bewildering smack in the face to every O.C. family that has lost a loved one to a drunken driver.

If Serna's family believes his actions need to be honored, let them fund an anti-drunken driving campaign or driver-improvement program in O.C. high schools. Naming a high school, even a “sober high school,” after someone who has killed himself as a drunken driver in the hope that it will prevent someone from doing the same in the future is a fallacy at best.

Let's hope this absurd idea is given the appropriate response and left to fade away. The pain of the death of a loved one by an intoxicated driver never does.

She also believes that campaigns should be limited to just three or four debates and the “savings” that would ensue could be given to the poor. I feel the need to point out several things to Carlson.

First, the money received and spent by all candidates, regardless of amount, is all voluntarily given, so it is as far from “thievery” as anything can be.

Second, if campaigns were restricted to just debates, the incumbent office-holder would have an overwhelming advantage in the race since he or she could use the power of the office to be seen and heard on an hourly basis while the challenger could only sit in their office and practice for a debate that may or may not been seen.

And finally, we already have a system that uses thievery to supply money to the poor: taxes.

Steve Fleming

Chino Hills

Bird-watcher paradise

We enjoyed Bruce Chambers' article, “On the trail of birds” [Sept. 25]. My husband and I often sit in our back yard in the evenings and wonder what birds will visit us.

We often see egrets, mockingbirds, hummingbirds, finches and the local green parrots that fly over us in flocks or in pairs, squawking their greetings. The birdbath visible from my kitchen window gives me another view of little splashing visitors.

It is great to know there is a place as close to us as the Santa Ana River Trail where we can take a short hike and see some of our additional feathered friends.

Thanks for the great article and wonderful photographs.

Patricia Stone

Villa Park

A pot shot at the feds

I see the federal government has finally decided to enforce federal marijuana laws [“U.S. cracking down on L.A. pot dispensaries,” State, Sept. 26]. I wonder if this is a prelude to enforcing another law, about being in the country illegally?

Of course, pot operations may have been an easier target.

John McKinney

Anaheim

The rear-view advantage

How about requiring rear-view mirrors on bicycles [“Curb biking tragedies,” News, Sept. 26]? All other vehicles require them. Maybe it would help if bicyclists knew what was behind them.

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